Seven Brethren homes one step closer to fruition

Plans to redevelop Seven Brethren in Barnstaple are continuing to progress as North Devon Council has exchanged contracts with a delivery partner to facilitate the build of up to 180 homes on the site.

The council is now working with Tarka Living Limited to deliver the housing, which includes 30% affordable homes; of which 70% will be for social rent and 30% shared ownership, increasing the stock of much-needed affordable housing in the area. 

The homes will be built on the site of the old leisure centre after its demolition, alongside the provision of flood defences and a new long-stay car park adjacent to the AGP pitches. This will also be the new home for the Barnstaple Fair, once complete.

In 2019 the council was awarded a £2.2m grant from the government's Land Release Fund (LRF), introduced to help councils unlock land for residential development. The grant will support the redevelopment of the site and move the long stay car park. 

Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, said: “We are excited to be working alongside Tarka Living to deliver these high quality developments at a prime riverside location. The LRF grant we were awarded back in 2019 has given us a really exciting opportunity to address the problem we have with a lack of housing options in the town centre, including the need for more affordable housing."

James Brent, Chairman of Tarka Living, said: “We are delighted to be working with North Devon Council to regenerate this stunning site in Barnstaple. The new homes could hardly be better situated to provide access to the town centre and transport network and the views will be difficult to match. We are grateful not only to North Devon Council but also to the Land Release Fund for their support in demonstrating that high quality housing can be delivered whilst enhancing rather than damaging the environment.”

The council will now work with Tarka Living on a reserved matters application, which it hopes will be submitted in the spring. In the meantime, Tarka Living will be working with the planners to secure the necessary consent to allow enabling works to commence on site; namely the provision of the new long stay car park, demolition of the old leisure centre and delivery of the flood defences.